I have been involved with two-cycle tools since 1974, repairing, running,
testing and teaching people about and how to use them. Fuel issues have been a
major concern of two-cycle equipment manufacturers as long as I can remember.
Old gasoline, improper mixing and carburetor adjusting have cost manufacturers,
equipment owners and operators a lot of money.

On a trip to Sweden and Finland back about twenty years ago I was impressed by
an idea that was readily available at power equipment dealers. The concept was a
pure gasoline pre-mixed with two-cycle oil and packaged by the liter. The fuel
was focused at the emissions value to the operator and the reduced damage to the
engine and rubber parts.

A concern in many countries is the inhalation of two-cycle fumes and its long
term effects on the operator and environment. This has become evident in the USA
over the past decade.The issue I
am told stems from the additives in gasoline, the age of the gasoline, along
with the mix oil and the engine efficiency.

As gasoline ages it loses its octane rating and becomes less volatile. When this
happens it burns erratically and engine damage causing carbons and detonation
occur. The oxygenators and cleaning agents used in automotive fuels can react
negatively to the efficiency of two-cycle mixed fuel. Remember the auto fuel
industry doesn’t spend a lot of time making gasoline work for the two-cycle
equipment user. Pure gasoline, much like that used in the aviation industry, is
more suited for the two-stroke fuel mix process.

Think about the detergents discussed in the auto gasoline advertising. They
promote detergents to clean the inside of the car engine, reducing sludge and
valve deposits that can be detrimental to your car’s engine. It’s good to be
scrubbing the inside of your car engine so to speak with these agents. However,
detergents are designed to separate oil and grease from the surfaces of your
engine block and valves. Detergent basically lifts and separates the oil film
from the metal and carries it off with the flowing oil and exhaust.Now consider detergents, if they are doing their job, what is the effect
on oil that is mixed with the gas to form your
mixed two-cycle fuel. The minute you
pour in the oil and shake it up in your gasoline container an amazing
scrubbing bubbles operation begins to
take place. The detergents in the gasoline are now fighting with the oil you
added to separate them. They are just doing their job. The problem is you need
the oil to stay connected with the gas to do your job with the two-cycle engine
you have spent your savings on.

Alcohol containing fuels add another facet to the situation…Let’s say you have your two-cycle machine adjusted and it’s running good.
The fuel you had in the tank had little or no ethanol or methanol (alcohol) in
it and it is running good. Now, you run out of fuel and go buy fresh gas and mix
up a fresh supply in your can. It contains alcohol now because the new gasoline
found at most pumps has 10%, or greater in some cases (I’ve heard rumor it may
be even going higher, say 15%). Your engine rpm now runs higher and it idles
differently, but you can get by… What’s really taking place? If you don’t
re-adjust your carburetor you may be creating a lasting problem inside your now
rapidly wearing engine.

You see, what I have been told, is that alcohol molecules take a larger hole to
go through than gasoline molecules. I
don’t drink alcohol, but those that do, say that it is the reason they drink
from a glass because it’s hard to drink fast and get enough from a small bottle
opening. Just kidding! But it does make sense doesn’t it- given the richer
adjustment needed for alcohol content fuel flow.

Now back to the carburetor of your two-stroke.Your carburetor mixture screw setting is open let’s say two turns. There
is a given amount of fuel that is passing by the adjusting screw. You add
alcohol fuel to the situation and want it to pass by that same opening that was
set for the pure gasoline. It can’t pass through at the same volume. The engine
gets less fuel at the given setting. The important thing… a two-cycle gets its
lubrication from where? The oil mixed with the gasoline. If you limit the fuel
flow, you limit the lubrication needed inside your engine. If you adjust the
screw open more you will remain lubricated but if you don’t…. eventual downtime.
Potentially, the more fuel alcohol percentage in the gasoline, the greater the
problem.You can adjust to the
situation but someone has to recognize the situation and do it.The adjustment has to happen.

Consider the ethanol added to the gasoline is also sometimes a great solvent. It
affects fuel lines, seals and other rubber parts too. It softens them and can
cause all kinds of problems. You may have seen fuel lines in your saw or trimmer
that has somehow turned to chewing gum consistency. Ethanol also collects water
very well. This can help remove moisture from gasoline - but if it holds
moisture in the two-cycle engine it can cause corrosion of aluminum and
magnesium components.

I discuss carburetor adjustment in most all of my training sessions. Sometimes I
am cautioned by the organizers or supervisors at the training sessions about
doing so. They really don’t want their operators adjusting. They say, “I don’t
want them to have a screwdriver nor use it.” I agree with that totally. However,
I bet I hear of as many two-cycles damaged by lack of adjustment as I do
adjustment. Actually more! If you fail to correctly adjust an engine that is not
running properly, you stand a chance of engine damage.
An operator needs to know when a piece
of equipment is out of adjustment. This is important to the life of the engine
and operator safety.

Some people add a little extra oil to compensate for adjustment- adds a little
extra lubrication - so they think. Oil holds heat and if not burned cleanly
increases harmful emissions and carbon buildup. This unburned buildup and carbon
inside the engine causes bearings to skate, piston rings to stick and scoring of
pistons and cylinders.

Back now to my experience from the Scandinavian trip. The past few weeks I have
been trying pre-mixed fuel from TruSouth Oil. I think it offers a
long time needed solution to several
two-stroke problems and efficiencies.

A typical example scenario…

While out in California on a recent training expedition I had a Husqvarna chain
saw. I was using the saw fuel from the county park service supply. I asked how
old the fuel was in their supply. They didn’t know the mix date. I asked if they
have had any fuel problems show up, they replied not that they knew of. I then
asked if they had any saws with cylinder replacements in the past few months.
They replied two in the past year. Conversations turned to the fact they have
problems with seasonal help and mixing fuel properly.
A common cause many experience.

I had to adjust the saw when I first started work and everything luckily ran OK
with their fuel. You just don’t know however the lubrication you are getting
until some time passes. I ran the mix for three tanks with no problems.

I started the third class out with 50Fuel. I had to re-adjust the idle and high
speed settings a little leaner. That told me that the fuel from the county
possibly had some alcohol in the mix, not so much that it couldn’t be adjusted
out but the other negatives were still in place. Adjustments have to be made if fuel isn’t consistent, elevation changes
and as wear occurs in the engine.

The greatest thing is the 50Fuel ran great for the rest of the week and I know
what it has in it. A very reassuring thought!

TruSouth Oil’s 50Fuel is going to answer many questionable two-cycle equipment
issues. Some of the cost effectiveness of the purchase price will be realized in
less repair costs over time, stabilized running efficiency and the following:

·
No mixing mistakes

·No ethanol concerns

·
No gas cans – Quart bottle convenience - Less waste

·
Two year shelf life once opened and up to five year case life

·
No fuel related issues with plastics and rubber parts

·
Consistent carb adjustments and tank vapor pressure

·
Less emission fumes

·
Less can and supply storage space

Give 50Fuel a try and you weigh out the cost advantages. Check out their website
www.50fuel.com or visit our
eStore to get your supply.